Filing-cabinet clamp.



J. DANNHBISER.

FILING CABINET CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.17, 190a.

Patented Feb.22, 1910.

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JOSEPH DANNHEISER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

FILING-CABINET CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1910.

Application filed December 17, 1908.. Serial No. 467,998.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH DANNIIEISER, citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Filing-Cabinet Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to filing clamps, and pertains particularly to that class of clamps which are used for the vertical filing and supporting system wherein the papers, tracings, or articles of like character are to be filed in suitable indexed order in a cabinet.

It is particularly desirable to afford and provide a clamp which is adapted to be tightly closed upon one edge of the papers or articles to be filed away, and which clamp will have integrally formed suitable supporting members; and therefore it is a primary object of this invention to form a filing clamp of a single piece of material, and to suitably bend and cut this material so that it will at once form clamping members, and rigid and strong supporting members.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a clamp of this character which may be of any desirable length, and which is adapted to be used in combination with the filing cabinets which are the subjects of pending applications.

The invention consists of the details of construction and ar *angements of members, and in the design of the clamp as set forth in the following specification, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a front elevation showing the clamp in place. Fig. 2 .is a detail perspective view of a portion of the clamp. Fig. 3 is a cross section through the body of the clamp. Fig. 4 shows a preliminary step in the formation of the clamp. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a modified form of clamp. Fig. (3 is a perspective view of a fragment of another modification.

It has been found by actual practice in the manufacture of filing clamps that considerable expense is incurred by the use of a multiplicity of independent members which combine to form a clamp and a support therewith; and it has therefore been found necessary in order to make the clamp a more commercial success that it is preferable to form the clamp and the supports therefor in one piece. This will be of great advantage for various reasons, such for instance, in reducing the cost of the manufacture of the several pieces, and in reducing the cost of assembling the independent pieces.

In the embodiment of my invention as shown in the drawings, I employ a single continuous strip 2 of suitable material, such for instance as thin sheet steel or brass of any suitable length. and of such width that when it has been formed into the finished article, the clamp leaves 3 will be of the requisite area to afford a strong grip upon the paper or material to be filed. The strip is first folded centrally back upon itself as shown in Fig. 4, and the upper folded edge tightly rolled upon itself as clearly shown in Fig. 3 so as to form a continuous cylindrical fold 4L, substantially rod -shaped. This peculiar folding of the upper edge produces an extremely strong and approximately tubular rod, the entire length of the folded sheet 2, and as shown in Fig. 1, the leaves 3 are then cut away a suitable distance at each end of. the clamp 5 in such a manner that the tube at projects su'lliciently beyond the leaves 3 at each end to provide extensions 6 which adapt the clamp to be supported upon the usual b *ackets 7 or other equivalent members whereby the clamp and the papers to be filed away, are suitably suspended within the cabinet. It will thus be seen that I have provided a strong integral filing clamp and supports, and do not use any independent members or elements as is now commonly employed in obtaining a clamp for vertical filing cabinets.

As shown in Fig. 3, the leaves 3 of the clamp diverge slightly from each other for the proper reception of the articles to be filed, and in Fig. 2 I have shown the usual form of binder or closing member 8 which is adapted to be passed endwise along the leaves 3, and when depressed, as indicated by the arrow, upon the leaves, is adapted to tightly close the leaves upon the material within the clamp.

At 9 I have illustrated a hanger which may in some instances be provided, when the clamp is to be used in cabinets, which instead of having brackets 7 to support the clamp, have pins or hooks as shown in dotted lines at 10. The hanger 9 comprises a simple perforated plate or bent wire having a hook at its lower end, and the hook is adapted to he slid along the tube or rod 4t of the clamp.

At 11 is shown a suitable index or cardholder which is also adapted to be hooked over the rod 41-. of the clamp, and to receive a card containing the designation of the papers filed.

In Fig. 5 the same clamp is used having the leaves 3, and the tubular support or fold t but which, instead of having the leaves cut away proximate the ends to form supporting projections, is continuous from end to end, and the fold 4: is severed in two places 12, and the roll of material in between the cuts is unrolled and flattened out so as to extend upwardly and form a perforated hanger 18, one of which will be formed approximate each end of the clamp 5. This modification provides an equally efficient clamp as that shown in Fig. 1, and would preferably be used when the clamp is to be mounted in filing cabinets employing pins or hooks upon which to hang the clamps. A small rod 14 is insertible Within the tube 4 of the clamp, and adapted to be projected across the space formed by the unfolding of the clamp 13. In this manner the normal rigidity and stiffness of the roll 4 is again obtained, which might be slightly weakened by the cutting away of the hanger 13. An index holder 15 would also be formed integrally with the holder 5 by severing the tube 4: at suitable points between the ends of the clamp, and by unfolding the severed material which may then be punched out to form an opening 16 through which the card or index inserted between the folded sides of the clamp, would be visible.

Manifestly the use of the rods 14 may be entirely dispensed with at choice, and in this form it will be seen that I provide an extremely simple, efficient and integrally formed filing clamp embodying clamping leaves, supporting hangers and index holders, all of which are readily formed at very slight expense, from one continuous piece of flat material, suitably bent, rolled and then severed to form the several different members.

These clamps are especially adaptable for the filing away of various articles such as blue prints, tracings, or the like, in a vertical cabinet; and it is particularly desirable that the supporting members 6 be made to occupy as little area or space as is possible; and in order to facilitate the filing of a large number of separate clamps when they are to be hung for instance, upon the brackets 7, I have provided a slightly modified form of the clamp, as shown in Fig. 6, in which the rod member 6 is formed of a series of folds which are preferably rolled so as to present a rectangular cross section, and as here shown the two leaves 3 are independent pieces of material, and are there fore rigidly interlocked by the peculiar folding of the rod 6. It will be manifest therefore that if the material of which the leaves 3 are formed is only of an inch in thickness, then the width of the rod 6 would only total approximately of an inch; thus producing a clamp and support which will enable a large number of the clamps to be filed in close contact in a cabinet.

Obviously the tube 4 in the preferred form of the invention, may be flattened to correspond to the form shown in Fig. 6, but with the difference that the clamp shown in Fig. 8 would be formed of one integral piece, whereas the clamp shown in Fig. (3 is made up of two separate pieces which are rigidly interlocked by being double folded.

WVhen it is desirable to use the preferred form of the clamp, or that shown in Fig. 8, in cabinets employing hooks 10, then the extension supports 6 of the clamp will be omitted, and the hangers 9 substituted in lieu thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A filing clamp formed from a single piece of material suitably folded upon itself and rolled to form a tube, said tube having clamping leaves extending to one side and parallel therewith.

2. A filing clamp formed from a single strip of material folded in tubular form and having clamping leaves extending to one side parallel with the axis of the tube, said tube having end extensions forming hangers for the clamp.

3. A filing clamp formed fro-m a single strip of material suitably folded upon itself and having the folded edge rolled to form a tube and having clamping leaves extending below and parallel with said tube.

4. A filing clamp comprising a tube formed by spirally rolling a folded sheet of material, leaves projecting below said tube and hangers projecting from said tube.

A filing clamp comprising a pair of parallel leaves having a fold formed along one side said leaves having supported members and index holders projected from the clamp by unbending and straightening portions of the fold.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH DANNHEISER. Witnesses CHARLES EDELMAN, C. C. Coon. 

